CONNECTION
WHEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
THE BEEF?
Hobbs Farms is the
place for all-natural
meat, eggs and more

HOT TIPS TO KEEP COOL
Local company offers up advice
to get the most from your A/C

GROWTH SPURT
Boys and Girls Club
welcomes Teen Center

JULY/AUGUST 2016

INDUSTRY NEWS

Making an impact while making connections
New study shows that rural broadband adds significant
dollars and jobs to nation’s overall economy
By Stephen V. Smith

R

ural broadband is about more than
connecting people to high-speed
internet service. A new study
reveals that your telco and companies like
it, along with the vendors that support the
industry, made significant contributions to
the U.S. economy in 2015.
The study, “The Economic Impact of
Rural Broadband,” was published in April
by the Hudson Institute, a research organization promoting American leadership, and
the Foundation for Rural Service, a nonprofit established in 1994 by NTCA–The
Rural Broadband Association to advance an
understanding of rural issues.
The rural broadband industry had a
$24.1 billion impact on America’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) last year. A country’s GDP represents the total dollar value
of the final goods and services produced by

IMPACT ON GDP
$24.1 billion

$6.9 Billion
Indirect

all industries and is a means of gauging the
economic health of a nation.
In addition to its immediate economic
impact, broadband is important to rural
communities because it connects citizens
to educational, shopping and job opportunities. The Hudson/FRS study, however,
revealed that rural broadband has a striking
impact on urban areas as well.
Of the $24.1 billion that rural broadband
contributed to the GDP, some 66 percent,
or $15.9 billion, accrued to urban areas.
Further, of the 69,595 jobs supported by
rural broadband, through direct employment and employment generated by its
purchase of goods and services, some 54
percent were in urban areas. This can be
attributed to the fact that many vendors
supplying the industry (with equipment,
materials, regulatory and other consultant

services, etc.) are centered in urban areas.
“This illustrates that rural broadband
is not just a rural issue,” says Shirley
Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA. “A healthy
U.S. economy actually needs rural broadband, and a healthy U.S. job market actually needs rural broadband.”
Rural broadband also contributed to
the economy by supporting e-commerce
activity. The U.S. Census Bureau tracks
economic transactions that occur over the
internet, and, according to the report, rural
broadband providers supported some $100
billion in e-commerce through the service
they provide to manufacturers (the sector
where e-commerce was the strongest).
The report provides additional details,
including a state-by-state breakdown of
financial impact and number of jobs. To
view the report, visit www.frs.org. 

JOBS

E-COMMERCE

69,595

57.1%

54% Urban

46% Rural

$17.2 Billion Direct

Rural broadband companies contributed $24.1
billion to the economies of the states in which they
operated in 2015 — $17.2 billion through their own
operations and $6.9 billion through the follow-on
impact of their operations.

2 | July/August 2016

$100 billion

The rural broadband industry supported 69,595 jobs
in 2015 through employment within the industry and
employment generated at companies that provide
goods and services to the industry. More than half of
these jobs were found in urban areas.

Shipments
involving
E-commerce
in the
Manufacturing
Sector

Rural broadband providers supported an estimated
$100 billion in internet-based sales in 2015 through
the service they provide to manufacturers in their
service areas. Of the sectors in which the U.S. Census
Bureau tracks e-commerce, manufacturing led with
57.1 percent of all shipments involving e-commerce.

Millennials now prefer
streaming over live TV
According to the “State of Cable & Digital Media 2016” report by Horowitz
Research, millennials (those aged 18 to 34) are far more likely to stream video than to
watch traditional, live television.
Streaming video is content delivered over an internet connection to smart TVs,
tablets, smartphones, computers or streaming players such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV
and Apple TV.
The numbers show a dramatic turnaround from 2012 and further underscore millennials’ need for high-quality, high-speed broadband connections.

Millennials and Video:
Streaming or Traditional?

75%
Streaming
Traditional

39%
Streaming

15%
2012

2015
Source: Horowitz Research

Call completion

What can you do?
Rural call completion continues to be a challenge, as people experience failed connections and poor call quality when making long-distance or wireless calls to rural
landlines. Following are some steps to take if someone has trouble completing a
call to you from a long-distance or wireless telephone service provider:

1

Encourage them to report the issue
to their provider. They will need the
date and time the call was attempted,
plus the calling and called telephone
numbers.

2

Encourage them to report the
problem to the FCC by calling
888-225-5322 or visiting consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. They will need the date

and time the call was attempted, the
calling and called telephone numbers
and the name of their long-distance or
wireless telephone service provider.

3

By Shirley Bloomfield, CEO
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association

Progress on call
completion issue

W

Traditional

54%

Rural Connections

Call your local phone company and
provide the same information so
they may work with the long distance
or wireless provider to isolate the
problem.

hile the issue of call completion into rural areas continues
to be a problem, we saw some
progress a few weeks ago when a Utahbased long-distance carrier and call-center
service provider agreed to pay $100,000
to settle an FCC investigation.
Rural residents and business owners have long reported that some longdistance and wireless callers are not able
to get through to their landline telephone,
and that some calls that do come through
have poor call quality. A leading cause of
these call completion issues is substandard service from third-party companies,
known as “least-cost routers,” that longdistance and wireless companies use to
route their calls into rural areas.
The FCC investigation and ultimate
settlement took place in part thanks to a
consumer in rural Minnesota who complained repeatedly to the FCC. This is not
an easy step for a consumer to take, and it
puts the burden in the wrong place.
While we certainly appreciate the
FCC’s actions, such efforts have so far not
been able to stop this practice. This calls
for the need for legislation like that introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
and Rep. David Young (R-IA) to shine
the light on these least-cost routers and
put an end to the call completion problem
once and for all. NTCA is eager to work
with members of Congress and the FCC
to ensure that all carriers and intermediate
providers finally understand that practices
contributing to dropped and uncompleted
calls are simply unacceptable. 
July/August 2016 | 3

FROM THE CEO

The Ardmore

CONNECTION
JULY/AUGUST 2016

Building for the future

M

any of us use broadband when we first wake up,
at the last moment before we go to sleep and
during much of the time in between. For something that barely existed 15 years ago, it’s remarkably
embedded in our lives.
In the morning, before we even get dressed, we check the
weather. That’s right; broadband helps us decide what clothes to
wear every day. When we get in our cars, many of us listen to
podcasts, stream internet radio stations or use our phone’s GPS
for directions if we’re going somewhere new. These services
may exist on our mobile phones, but it’s important to remember
that it’s often broadband providers like Ardmore Telephone that
have built the network to connect cell towers to servers.
At work, more and more of our jobs rely on broadband. We
TREVOR
email customers and co-workers. We order parts. We downBONNSTETTER
load new curricula, training videos or manuals. We upload our
Chief Executive Officer
documents, diagrams and data to far-flung vendors, partners and
clients. More and more of us are using videoconferencing to
interact face-to-face with people around the country or even around the world.
After our school or workday is finished, some of us search recipes or restaurant menus to
decide on dinner. After we eat, many of us shop online, share photos with family members
or browse social media. Then, as our evening comes to an end, we stream TV shows, catch
up on news articles or read an e-book we’ve downloaded on our tablets.
To be sure, the internet has made so many day-to-day tasks more convenient and has
allowed us to work more efficiently.
It’s easy to say no one could have predicted how big the internet has become in our daily
lives, but as your local broadband provider, it’s our job to predict these types of advances
and prepare for them. We’ve worked hard over the past several decades to be sure we
invested in the network our customers would need, before they would need it. For our area
to keep up with the business trends, quality of life and educational opportunities in other
areas, it’s been paramount that our network be able to handle future demands.
Looking forward, I don’t see these advances slowing down. On the contrary, I believe
changes in telemedicine, streaming entertainment, cloud-based computing, home automation and long-distance learning will rapidly increase the importance of a reliable broadband
connection.
I’m excited to see the new ways technology will improve our lives over the next 10 or 15
years, and I’m excited to be part of the team that’s delivering this technology to the customers of Ardmore Telephone. 

is a hometown service provider delivering
advanced telecommunications technology
to the people of Giles and Lincoln
counties in Tennessee and Limestone
and Madison counties in Alabama.
The company is managed by Telecom
Management Services and owned by
Synergy Technology Partners.

On the Cover:
Lisa Hobbs of Hobbs
Farms shows off some
of their chickens.
The farm, located in
Ardmore, raises and
sells all-natural beef,
chicken and eggs.
See story Page 12.

4 | July/August 2016

Fiber complete in five areas
Ardmore Telephone Company moves forward with its fiber expansion throughout
the service area, continuing to build the infrastructure necessary for high-speed
internet service to all customers.
The telco announced completion of fiber builds on Thach Road, Buckner Drive,
Peety Lane, Tracy Lynn Drive and CBJ Lane.
Also, some DSL subscribers can expect faster speeds. Eric Mitchell is excited about
remote locations needed to create an efficient system.
“Right now, we’re working on setting up a remote unit halfway between Elkmont
and the end of the exchange at the Tennessee line,” he says. “This will shorten loop
links and make it possible for customers to get faster internet speeds.”
Mitchell expects crews to start the Beth Road build in June, with the goal of finishing by fall.
Also, work is planned for later this year on Sleepy Hollow Road in Elkmont, as well
as Mint Springs Road and Hillsboro Circle in New Market. Additionally, the buildout
is scheduled for Wray Branch Road in Minor Hill, Tennessee. This will provide the
opportunity for faster DSL speeds in these areas.

A ‘thanks’ to
the customers
Ardmore Telephone celebrated Customer Appreciation Day on May 12.
About 350 customers enjoyed grilled hot
dogs with all the trimmings and MoonPies for dessert. There was also a television and iPad giveaway. Ardmore thanks
all the customers who attended.

Website wins national award
Ardmore Telephone won
the Best Website category in
the TeleChoice Awards from
NTCA–The Rural Broadband
Association. Winning entries
were awarded during the 2016
PR and Marketing Conference
in Charleston, South Carolina,
an honor that will be featured
in an upcoming issue of Rural
Telecom magazine.

It’s directory time!
It’s that time of year again, when many of us will begin working in our yards.
No matter how small it might seem, please call 811 before digging. Cutting
a buried line might cause service outage not only for you but also for your
neighbors, and repairs can be expensive. The 811 service will notify Ardmore
Telephone that you are digging and let you know where lines may be buried.

Safe digging is no accident.
Always call before you dig.
Ardmore Telephone Company

8-1-1

The 201617 Ardmore
Telephone
Directory is
coming out
in September.
Don’t miss it!

July/August 2016 | 5

Astronomical

Attractions
Explore the galaxy from
these heavenly hotspots

By Anne Braly

C

ity lights cast a blanket
over the night sky,
effectively covering
the brilliance of the stars. But
step out into the country and
the universe presents itself with
a light show like none other.
Here are some of the best places
for stargazing in the South —
wonders to behold by simply
looking up.

TAMKE-ALLAN OBSERVATORY
Rockwood, Tennessee
Though many parts of the Cumberland Plateau have seen extensive growth
resulting in light pollution, Tamke-Allan is in an isolated location ideal
for stargazing, says Dr. David Fields, astronomy professor at Roane State
Community College. The observatory was opened by the college in 1998.
“Only by experiencing astronomy and discussing the implications of an
infinite universe does one begin to appreciate the challenges and adventures
that astronomy offers,” Fields says.
And what newcomers to Tamke-Allan will experience includes observing
the skies through one of several telescopes: a 13.1-inch Dobsian; a computercontrolled 12-inch Meade; and a large 6-foot-long, 8-inch telescope. In
addition, there are several smaller telescopes used for teaching, but visitors
are encouraged to bring their own.
gg Hours: The first and third Saturdays of every month, beginning at
7:30 p.m., weather permitting.
gg Admission: Free, but bring food to share with astronomers.
gg Information: www.roanestate.edu/obs

Tech-Savvy Traveler:
Good news! If you don’t have time to make it to an observatory or planetarium — the night sky puts on a show every
night from dusk to dawn and technology can help you know what’s going on. Websites like seasky.org provide
calendars to know when eclipses, meteor showers and other phenomena will occur and darksitefinder.com can help
you find areas away from city lights where you can see the sky best. For more advanced astronomers, mobile apps like
Star Chart, Sky Guide and The Night Sky can help you identify stars, planets and constellations.
6 | July/August 2016

LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
Golden Pond, Kentucky
Visitors to the Golden Pond Planetarium
and Observatory can stand beneath a
40-foot domed ceiling and learn about the
constellations on a simulated night sky.
Then, they can see the real thing through
two state-of-the-art telescopes, one that
will track anything in its view, and another
that allows viewers a safe look at the sun,
a sight unlike any you’ve ever seen. But
if you’re looking for a setting in the wilds
of nature, take your tent and binoculars
and set out for an overnight in the
backcountry, where, on beautiful nights,
blackened skies are backlit with nature’s
laser show. And if you’re lucky, you’ll
catch a falling star.
gg Hours: Open all year, except
Thanksgiving Day, December 24-26,
December 30-31, and January 1.
gg Admission: Daytime shows are $5
(ages 13 and up) and $3 (ages 5-12).
Evening shows are $7 (all ages).
gg Information: www.explorekentuckylake.com or www.landbetweenthelakes.us.

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Summer is one of the best times for
stargazing. “It’s the time of year that gets
the brightest inner parts of the Milky Way
and its star clusters and nebulae,” says Dr.
William Keel, a professor of physics and
astronomy at the University of Alabama in
Tuscaloosa.
While most university programs are
student-only events, the astronomy department opens its doors to all on select evenings for both viewings on campus, from
the observatory high atop Gallalee Hall,
and off campus, from beneath the dark
skies of Moundville Archeological Park.
When the observatory’s copper-topped
dome opens, a large telescope mounted on
a giant arm swings into position, its lens
searching for the mysteries of the universe
that light the night sky.
Sometimes as many as 200, or as few
as 10, delight in night-time field trips to
Moundville, where portable telescopes
bring into focus planets and other celestial

spectacles not seen by the naked eye.
gg Hours: See website for schedule
gg Admission: Free
gg Information: astronomy.ua.edu/Public.
html
gg Elsewhere in Alabama: The dome
of the planetarium at the Von Braun
Astronomical Society on Monte Sano
Mountain near Huntsville started life as
the shipping cover for a Saturn V fuel
tank. Public planetarium shows begin
at 7:30 p.m. every Saturday. Admission
is $5 (adults), $3 (students) and free for
children under 6. For more information,
visit www.vbas.org.

RAFES URBAN ASTRONOMY
CENTER
Denton, Texas
Ever look up and ask yourself, “Hmm.
Wonder if that’s a star or a planet? Oh,
could that be Orion’s belt?” Party with the
stars at one of Rafes’ popular star parties
and you’ll have the answer delivered on
the spot by knowledgeable astronomers.
“Most people really just want to know
what they’re looking at,” says Randall
Peters, planetarium manager. And for the
best view, the party is in an amphitheater
adjacent to the observatory, complete
with a dozen telescopes of all sizes and
configurations.
Rafes also features four telescope huts,
each housing Celestron C8 telescopes,
and two large domes that house Celestron
C14’s.
Rafes is operated by the University of
North Texas, less than 10 miles east, making it a short drive to the campus to experience Sky Theater, a planetarium inside
the Environmental Sciences Building. It’s
open every Saturday and takes guests on
a ride through the cosmos via a highdefinition projection system beamed onto
a 40-foot domed ceiling.
gg Hours: Star parties are every Saturday
beginning 30 minutes after sundown.
The Sky Theater offers a children’s
matinee at noon and public shows at 2
p.m. and 8 p.m. every Saturday.
gg Admission: $5 (star parties), or star
party/Sky Theater combo tickets may
be purchased for $7 (children under 12

and students with ID), $8 (senior citizens) and $9 (adults). Sky Theater-only
tickets are $3 (children under 12 and
students with ID), $4 (senior citizens)
and $5 (adults). Credit/debit cards not
accepted.
gg Information: www.astronomy.unt.edu.

Charles E. Daniel Observatory

CHARLES E. DANIEL
OBSERVATORY
Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville’s Daniel Observatory at
Roper Mountain Science Center boasts the
eighth-largest telescope in the nation. The
23-inch refractor telescope was completed
in 1882 for Princeton University. It was
rebuilt in 1933 and housed at the U.S.
Naval Observatory before being moved to
the science center’s observatory in 1978.
“Our telescope is a window to the
universe, enabling the observer to see
everything from the moons of Jupiter to
distant galaxies,” says Greg Cornwell,
planetarium and public program specialist.
In addition to Friday’s Starry Nights
planetarium show beneath its 50-foot
domed ceiling and public viewings at the
observatory, the center’s Roper Mountain
astronomers offer astronomy classes for
students, special events and other organized activities. All this happens high atop
the mountain, bringing guests just a bit
closer to the stars.
gg Hours: Starry Nights, 7-10 p.m. every
Friday.
gg Admission (includes planetarium show
and observatory viewing): $5 (adults)
and $4 (children 5-12 and seniors
60-plus).
gg Information: www.RoperMountain.
org. 
July/August 2016 | 7

Caylin Hatley works on a
homework assignment
after school.

Nich, left, and Zach
Baker work on two of
the computers at the
Teen Center.

A place of their own
The Boys and Girls Club of Ardmore opens Teen Center
By Melissa Smith

T

he teen years often bring new responsibilities, such as learning to manage money or deciding what to do after high
school. Teens are transitioning to young adults, but that
doesn’t mean they don’t need help and support.
For the Boys and Girls Club
of Ardmore, the desire to better
serve teens drove construction
of a new Teen Center just for
them. The building opened in
February and fills a key niche.
“I think the Teen Center
is really important because
it helps reach out to the kids
who still need a safe place to
come in the afternoons,” says
Heather Stapleton, a former
club participant who is now the
club’s social recreation teacher.
“That’s what the club is all
about.”
Stapleton, a student at
Calhoun Community College,
attended the Boys and Girls
Club from the time she was
in first grade until she was 16
years old. “Growing up here,
I really did develop a lot of

8 | July/August 2016

memories and make a lot of
friends through the years,” she
says. To her, the club is like a
second family.
And now, the family has a
little more room.
The new structure stands
beside the Boys and Girls Club
building that’s been the haven
for many children and teens
throughout the years.
Kids in the community
have always been able to
count on the Boys and Girls
Club of Ardmore, where
most programs are free. From
experiencing life lessons, to
receiving help with homework,
to learning about how to manage money, lives have been
changed.
As the club grew, additional
space was needed to nurture

teens and help them make the
transition from adolescence to
adulthood a little smoother.

DESIGNED FOR TEENS
The center is for kids 13
to 18 years old and is located
beside the current Boys and
Girls Club building.
Teens will have their
own space that can be used
for homework and other

Teen Director Sophie
Adzenga announces the
agenda for the day.

enrichment activities, such as
the Money Matters budgeting program and the Healthy
Habits lifestyle program.
“Now the teens don’t have to
feel too old to come here. It’s
not a babysitter; it’s a place
just for them,” Director Robin
Hargrove says.
Hargrove has worked with
the Boys and Girls Club for 16
years, and she has seen many
changes. “A lot of kids stopped
coming to the club when they
were 13, so adding the Teen
Center will hopefully allow
them to continue growing with
the club,” she says.
The center also helps with
ACT preparation courses. Also,
thanks to Ardmore Telephone
Company, the center has highspeed internet access students
can use for homework and
research projects.
The building can accommodate about 30 teens. Right now,
there are about eight teens who
come regularly, but more will
come of age in the summer
and move over from the Boys
and Girls Club main building.
“I think we provide an opportunity for kids they might not
get somewhere else,” Hargrove
says. 

Unit Director Robin
Hargrove discusses a
book with Logan Hatley.
Ardmore Telephone Company

Play it cool this summer
R&S shares tips on keeping your
cooling system in top shape
By Melissa Smith

M

ost of us have been there. In
maintenance, check the belts and the coolthe South, our summers are no
ant, most commonly known by the trade
joke. Sweltering heat makes
name Freon. It’s this coolant that actually
living without air conditioning almost
chills the air, and maintaining its levels
unbearable, so when the cooling unit fails, should be handled by a professional durit’s miserable. In fact, in some cases, it can ing annual inspections.
harm our health.
When talking to a heating and cooling
However, there are several ways to
professional, homeowners might also hear
make sure your coolunfamiliar terms coning system stays in
nected to the coolant.
top shape, says Steve
“The R22 is the old
Rozell.
style of Freon, and it
For the past 35
was bad for the ozone
years, R&S Heating
layer,” Josh Rozell
and Cooling on
says. As a result,
Gatlin Road has
there is a conversion
R&S Heating and Cooling is a
served the greater
to a more environfamily-owned company.
Ardmore area, as
mentally friendly
well as Madison and
coolant commonly
Huntsville. For owner Rozell, helping oth- known as 410A coolant, and homeowners
ers stay cool is part of a family tradition.
should understand the shift and whether it
His father, Ray Lewis, opened the busiwill change their maintenance plans.
ness. “I’ve been working with him since I
Also, the ductwork — the tubing or
could walk,” says Rozell, joking. He did,
other enclosures used to move air through
however, begin working summers with
a home’s ventilation system for heathis father, a job that eventually turned into ing and cooling — can sometimes leak.
full-time work. Now, Rozell’s son, Josh,
Routine maintenance of your unit can help
works in the family business.
you find and repair ductwork problems.
With a range of experience, including
While a professional inspection is
residential and commercial maintenance
important, there are some things homeand installations, Rozell understands
owners can do to help avoid potential
equipment does sometimes fail. So, to
problems.
avoid the stress of your air conditionFirst, it’s important to replace heating
ing unit going out in the middle of a heat
and cooling filters on a regular schedule. A
wave, Rozell offers a few tips on what you dirty filter can reduce the efficiency of the
can do to ensure the best performance and
system, but a clean filter means the air will
the greatest reliability.
flow freely.
First, have your unit serviced regularly.
Also, appropriate yard care can make
Having the coils of the unit cleaned and
a difference. Keep plants or debris away
maintained is one of the most important
from the exterior units of a heating and air
keys to keeping a long-running air condisystem. Clean leaves or other plants away
tioning system. “It’s like changing the oil
from the cage protecting the unit. The goal
in a car,” Rozell says.
should be a clean, unobstructed flow of
Also, when performing routine
air. 

Ardmore Telephone Company

Easy
and breezy
There are several ways to make sure
your home is comfortable during
the hottest months of the year. Try
these simple tips to keep your air
conditioning unit in tip-top shape.

b Routine

maintenance
Have coils cleaned
and Freon checked
periodically.

b replace filters

Dirty filters can reduce the
efficiency of the system.
Change them often.

b Check ductwork

Make sure your ductwork doesn’t leak so
that air doesn’t escape.

b Clean around
HVAC Unit

Keeping the area around
the unit clean can ensure
unobstructed air flow.

July/August 2016 | 9

FEATURED BLOGGER

Sue Rodman

Mom MOVE
on
the

A Q&A with Sue Rodman, a blogger from Atlanta who writes about her travels
with her husband and sons, Nicholas, 18; Sam, 16; and Jake, 11.

Check out her blog, at
Fieldtripswithsue.com
Q: What will readers find at your blog?
SR: Readers will find fun things to do in
Atlanta, as well as great places to go that
are easily accessible from Atlanta. I try
to give folks the information they’ll need
before they go, as well as tips to have the
best experience possible. Having the right
expectations going into an experience can
be the difference between a great trip and
one that’s not so great.
Q: When did you begin blogging and
how has it changed your life?
SR: I began blogging in late 2008. The
blog has afforded opportunities for me
and my family that I never would have
dreamed of before. I’ve also met some
incredible people. It’s been fun to feel like
I know folks around the entire country.
Q: Has there been a point when you
questioned bringing the children along
on a trip?
SR: Never. There are no bad field trips,
only better stories. However, I will say
that my husband has commented that the
kids don’t need to come every time, and
as they have gotten older we are trying to
do some trips without children. They don’t
like to be left home, but we remind them
that we didn’t go to places like the Turks
and Caicos until we were middle-age.
10 | July/August 2016

They have plenty of time. They don’t need
to see the entire world right now.
Q: Do you often set out for a day hike, or
do you enjoy making your hikes a multiday escape?
SR: When I was younger, I would occasionally combine hiking with camping,
but never more than a few days at a time.
Despite my love of the outdoors, “roughing it” has never really been my thing. A
year ago I purchased a Subaru Outback.
I can now sleep overnight in my car,
enabling me to go farther afield in search
of trails.
Q: What’s the most memorable trip
you’ve taken with your kids?
SR: We spent a month in Breckenridge,
Colorado, one summer. It was an amazing
experience. If you have a job that allows
you to work virtually, I highly suggest
looking into getting away for an extended
period like that. We really got to know
and explore the area without being rushed.
It was good for the kids to see a different lifestyle from our hectic city life and
realize there is more out there than our
bubble; you just have to go look for it.
Q: How does traveling with children
benefit them and you?

Other blogs you
might like:
nn gonewiththefamily.com

A blog written by a mother
of two young children that
includes a collection of travel
advice and trip reports, as well
as tips, tricks and resources for
traveling with little ones.

nn currentlywandering.com

Ever thought about selling
your home and hitting the
road in an RV or trailer?
Read about the adventures
of a family of five living in a
188-square-foot Airstream.

SR: Where do I start? My boys have
pulled out history books and pointed to
photos of things we’ve seen every year.
Travel brings education alive. It makes
kids curious. It also helps them visualize
the boring stuff in school and makes it
relevant. Travel gives our family shared
experiences and many laughs from our
adventures. 

Looking for
work in the
digital age
Broadband helps
job seekers expand
their search

Do’s and Don’ts

By Patrick Smith

W

hen it comes to job hunting in the digital age, an
employer’s first impression comes long before the
first face-to-face meeting. Web searches, social
media, email and online applications may have already painted
a picture long before you step through the door.

And without some coaching, it’s easy
for that first impression to be something
an applicant wouldn’t want. Job seekers should be aware of everything from
resume typos to questionable social
media posts.
But regardless of the added scrutiny,
searching for work online benefits both
job seekers and employers. And anyone
looking for work who isn’t searching
online greatly limits their ability to find
a job.

LOOKING ONLINE
Applicants can start their online
job search in a variety of ways.
CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com and
Monster.com are three of the biggest
online job-posting websites.
Additionally, don’t overlook the
importance of networking — both in
person and online. Many experts encourage people to start a LinkedIn.com social
media account. LinkedIn allows users in
similar fields to network and connect.
When you’re ready to apply, don’t

send the same resume to 100 different job openings. Tailor your resume
and cover letter to each specific job.
And make sure the materials have been
checked for misspellings or incorrect
information. Even your email address
can make an impression on employers. Make sure it’s straightforward and
professional.
Also, be aware of what you’re sharing
on social media. According to a 2013
survey by CareerBuilder.com, 37 percent
of employers use social media sites like
Facebook to screen job candidates —
and one-third of those employers say
they have found information on someone’s social media site that has caused
them not to hire that person.
Finally, before the interview, be sure
to research the company online. Look
into exactly what the company does and
read recent news releases so you’re upto-date with the latest information. Being
informed about the company also allows
job seekers to ask smart questions during
the interview. 

•• DO create multiple resumes
and cover letters tailored to the
specific jobs.
•• DO make sure everything on your
resume is accurate and true.
•• DO find out as much as possible
about the company and job you
have targeted.
•• DO make it easy for employers
to open your resume. PDF files of
your cover letter and resume usually work best.
•• DO network with people in similar positions, both in person and
online.
•• DO stay in touch. Follow up on
your application with an email a
few days later to show your interest in the job.
•• DO drive to the location where
you will be interviewing a day or
two early so you don’t get lost on
the day of the meeting.
•• DON’T send an email or letter
without rereading it to check
for attachments, grammar and
spelling.
•• DON’T apply for something you
aren’t qualified to do.
•• DON’T be afraid of being
rejected.
•• DON’T be late for your interview.

July/August 2016 | 11

Hannah Spencer raises
free-range chickens
and gathers their eggs
to sell to customers.

Mark Hobbs has
always been around
farming, but decided
to farm full-time upon
retirement.

t all started with a chicken named
Henrietta.
When she was little, Hannah Spencer
begged her parents, Mark and Lisa Hobbs,
for a chicken, but they declined to grant
that particular wish. Instead, during their
family’s 2008 Christmas Eve celebration,
Hannah’s grandfather walked into the family room carrying a coop with a chicken
inside.
Eventually, more chickens came to the
farm, and Hannah raised them. Then, she
began selling their eggs. That success
inspired Mark and Lisa to dive a little
deeper into the cattle business.

12 | July/August 2016

Mark has farmed his whole life. He
learned how to raise cattle by helping his
grandfather, and he now continues that
tradition on the same land.
When Mark retired from Madison
Utilities, he and Lisa knew they wanted
to do something else to help their family
farm grow. “We really prayed about it,”
Lisa says. Mark began looking into the
process of selling meat from the farm’s
animals and called the USDA in Nebraska
to see what steps they had to take to start
their business. “That was two years ago,”
Mark says. They found a processor, got the
required labeling and set up their freezer.

DOWN ON THE FARM
Hobbs Farms sells all-natural beef,
chicken and eggs. Their meat has no
hormones or growth additives. “It’s the
old way of raising them,” Mark says. “We
leave them in the pasture, and we grow the
feed and the hay they eat.” They also have
300 acres of row crop, including corn,
soybeans and wheat.
In the coming year, the Hobbs plan to
switch to a non-genetically modified feed
for the animals. Now, the corn used to
feed the cows is grown from a modified
seed, but that’s all going to change to better serve demand. “We like to honor our
Ardmore Telephone Company

Hannah Spencer sells canned goods made
from vegetables from her family’s garden.

Hobbs Farms has 60 laying
hens, as well as Cornish hens
that are processed for meat.

customers’ requests,” Mark says.
Due to the popularity of their website
and Facebook page, Hobbs Farms has
grown quite the following. They set up
at farmers markets throughout the region
and also sell from the shop at their farm
on Fridays and Saturdays. The traditional
cuts — steaks, chicken breasts and thighs,
ground beef — go quickly, and at times
sell out due to pre-orders, but the other
cuts like beef heart and chicken feet aren’t
so quick to sell. But, Hannah has thought
of a way to shed some light on preparing
some of the less popular cuts of meat.
While growing up on the farm, she
enjoyed making videos. She called it the
“Farm 12 News” complete with a weather
forecast. She would film progress and
goings-on in the garden and around the
house. She often interviewed her mother
when she would cook.
So, naturally, Hannah started making video tutorials that are posted on the
Hobbs Farms website to show how easy
Ardmore Telephone Company

Mark and Lisa Hobbs enjoy
their pet goats along with
the myriad of other animals
on the farm.

it can be to prepare some of those cuts of
meat and how delicious they can be. “I
really like to try new things and thought it
would be a good idea to have the recipes
online,” Hannah says. “Most people might
not know how to cut up a heart, so it’s better for visual learners.” She also says it’s
some of the best meat she’s ever eaten.
“I think Facebook and our website are
good reference points for people,” Hannah
says. “They share posts, and other people
will see it and message us with questions.”

KEEPING IT REAL
The farm has certainly grown from the
one chicken, Henrietta. Now, Hannah, 21,
has around 60 laying hens, along with the
Cornish Cross hens that are processed for
the meat. The eggs almost sell quicker than
the hens can lay them. And, along with
the beef and chicken meat, they also sell
canned goods from their vegetable garden.
Hannah says her grandmother taught
her to can when she was younger. “I hate

to see food go to waste, so I try to can
whatever is left over,” Hannah says. She
grows about anything you could think of
in a garden: eggplant, cucumber, squash,
cabbage, strawberries and more.
Even though the farm is not yet certified
as “organic,” the Hobbs certainly pride
themselves on maintaining quality. “We
just want people to know where their food
is coming from,” Lisa says. They offer
good beef, chicken and eggs at a reasonable price and say that God has answered
prayers.
“We are small. We want to help people
get quality food, and we’re not in this to
get rich,” Mark says.
Hobbs Farms hopes to begin offering
turkeys for sale this Thanksgiving season,
in addition to their other products. For
more information, visit hobbsfarmsbeef.
com or search “Hobbs Farms Beef and
Chicken” on Facebook. 

July/August 2016 | 13

SOUTHERN KITCHENS

Hot dog
Haven

A

ny given weekend, day or night,
folks crowd the town square in
Abbeville, South Carolina, all
coming for one thing: their love of a classic food America can call its very own —
hot dogs. And no one serves them up any
better than The Rough House.
The downtown eatery has been making
hot dogs the same way for 84 years, says
owner Darrow Kay. “Except for the kind
of mustard we use,” he says. “We now use
French’s.”
The Rough House keeps things simple.
In a day when hot dog stands display
outrageous toppings, such as avocados,
cucumbers, tomatoes — even pineapple
and teriyaki sauce — The Rough House
takes a simpler approach that turns back
the clock on tubular cuisine.
“Mustard, onions and chili are the only
toppings we offer,” Kay says.
There’s Texas Pete on the table if you
want to drizzle on some hot sauce to add
a little bark to your dog. But if you want
ketchup, you’ll have to add it yourself.
Consider it a cardinal sin at The Rough
House. “Our hot dogs taste too good to
ruin them with ketchup,” Kay says.
And it’s not just the menu — hot dogs,
ice cream and MoonPies, plus RC Cola,
Cheerwine and Coca-Cola served in glass
bottles — that takes a step back in time,
adding a touch of nostalgia. So does the
décor that sports old signs and photos
from yesteryear.
“We have pictures on the walls of the
old, local baseball teams from Abbeville
and Calhoun Falls,” Kay says.
And don’t be surprised to find three generations of local families in one picture, all
smiling back at you.
“One particular Saturday, there was a
grandfather who was in one of the old
baseball pictures,” Kay says. “He brought
his son and grandson to see the old photos

14 | July/August 2016

Darrow Kay says things
are built on tradition
at The Rough House
— from the hot dog
toppings, sides and
drinks to the old photos
on the wall.

and to eat hot dogs and enjoy the atmosphere like he did as a young man. It most
certainly put a smile on my face to keep
the tradition alive.”
It’s all about life in a small town on a
summer day, folks coming to The Rough
House to experience one of life’s mosttreasured, but simplest, culinary pleasures
— a hot dog. Working guys in boots caked
with mud and men in suits and ties sitting
side-by-side. Grandparents with their
grandkids, treating them to what may be
their very first Rough House dog.
“It’s awesome to serve the children here
in Abbeville,” Kay says. “The majority of
the parents and grandparents make sure
the children use good manners by saying
‘yes sir’ or ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘thank you.’
Thank goodness that manners are still
important and alive in the South.”
While there’s nothing better than a hot

dog on a warm summer day, the sides that
come with it are equally important. Here
are several that Kay has found to be the
best — and they’ll come as no surprise:
baked beans, potato salad and coleslaw. 

MAGIC BAKED BEANS
“I’ll go ahead and warn you; these beans are
delicious,” Darrow Kay says.
8 slices of thick bacon
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
3 cans pork and beans (your
favorite brand)
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup distilled white or apple
cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Cut bacon slices in half, then fry them
on medium-low heat. You don’t want
to brown or crisp the bacon at all; the
point is only to render the fat and get
the bacon pieces ready to bake and
turn brown in the oven. Remove bacon
pieces once the fat is rendered; do not
clean the skillet or pour off grease.
Add onion and green pepper to the skillet and saute until tender. Pour in beans
and stir together.
Combine barbecue sauce, brown sugar,
vinegar and mustard; stir into beans
and simmer for a few minutes. Transfer
mixture to a casserole dish and put halfcooked bacon slices on top. Since the fat
has already been rendered from these,
they’re going to cook up really nicely in
the oven … and there won’t be that big
layer of grease standing on top of the
beans. Bake slowly in a 325 F oven for 2
hours or until the beans have thickened
with no soupiness at all.

Pour the coleslaw mix into a strainer
and place in the sink. Sprinkle with 1/2
cup sugar and 1/4 cup kosher salt and
lightly toss. Let sit for 5 minutes to draw
out moisture from the cabbage; rinse
well with cold water. Spin the coleslaw
mix in a salad spinner and place in a
large bowl.

For the dressing: In a medium bowl mix
the mayonnaise, sugar, cider vinegar,
celery salt, kosher salt, freshly ground
black pepper and chopped parsley.
Whisk well and pour 2/3 of the dressing
over the cabbage mixture, and toss to
combine. Add more of the dressing
as desired and season with more salt,
pepper or parsley to taste. Refrigerate
for 30 minutes or overnight before
serving.

Preheat grill to 350-400 F (medium-high)
heat. Place potatoes in a single layer in
center of a large piece of heavy-duty
aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil;
sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring up
foil sides over potatoes; double fold top
and side edges to seal, making 1 large
packet. Grill potatoes, in foil packet,
covered with grill lid, 15 minutes on each
side. Remove packet from grill. Carefully
open packet, using tongs, and let
potatoes cool 5 minutes. Or, if you do not
have a grill, potatoes can be roasted in a
400 F oven with olive oil until browned
and tender. Whisk together mayonnaise,
parsley, vinegar, sugar and mustard in a
large bowl; add potatoes, tossing gently
to coat. Stir in blue cheese and bacon.
Serve. 

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